Bagpiper Blog

bagpiperstephen

April 28, 2014

Bagpipes are for Weddings !

Weddings are a grand time. The bride’s looking her absolutely best, the groom is looking spiffy and all the guests are there for a celebration. I am always happy to play for weddings. Bagpipes make a grand addition to a wedding. A wedding is about many things but it is also about emotion.

Strong emotion makes an event memorable. When the pipes strike in and everyone turns to see the bride and her father, that’s an emotional event. Real memories, real emotions. That’s what makes that moment and the bagpipe memorable. People connect to the sound and image with their insides. It’s a visceral experience. It gets to them and afterward that emotion makes that event stand out. It still gets to me and I’m the performer. J

Music moves us emotionally. Ever turn the sound off on a favorite movie? Without that soundtrack the visual experience and dialogue just don’t have the same effect. Sound moves us. That sweeping scene in The Titanic with Leonardo DeCaprio and Kate Winslet would never be the same without that dramatic tune playing in the background.

I’ve seen many people weep when I play the pipes as emotion just comes forth. At a wedding certainly tears of joy occur but also bittersweet tears as a young bride and groom leave their family to cleave to one another. It’s my honor to attend many of these ceremonies and bring that special element to a wedding that makes it all the more special and memorable.